Rev. Iain D. Campbell, Free Church of Scotland, on 2 Cor.12.9

http://creideamh.blogspot.com/2009/09/thorn-in-flesh-2.html

Rarely does this scribe "most strongly" endorse anything or anyone in ministry. Just been around too long. The cult of personality informs many Christians. We eschew that. We've heard the best in the nation. God trumps all that in our simplest prayers. God speaks abundantly, daily, and sufficiently. There we find meat and food for the soul.

We apologize in advance if the paragraphs fail. This venue, after repeated corrections, often fails to accept the corrections. We'll try one more time.

We do, however, most highly recommend the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Iain D. Campbell, Free Church of Scotland, from the Isle of Lewis, from the outer Hebride Islands, Scotland. His sermons merit close attention.

We also post his picture, one of the outer Hebride Isles, and one St. Columba's mission church from these Isles.

We comment here with some intercalated observations. As such, some of this scribe's views appear. It is best to get Dr. Campbell's words from himself at the URL. We have added and subtracted. But we remain close to his sermon as a summary.

Pastor Campbell deals with St. Paul's "thorn in the flesh" from 2 Corinthians 12.9, loc. cit. Paul had been dealing with an arrogant breed at the Church of Christ at Corinth; "super apostles" was Paul's sarcastic, but needed rebuff to the rebellious boasters. These trumpeteers had, as they do today, been drawing people off into their sects.

Notice is made of the megachurches, TV evangelists, and others trumpetting better ways, coming, "boasting", and avowing things more.

As an aside, this scribe was going to my car at Wal-Mart a few weeks back. A car had a window sticker on the rear window. "XXXX Church, the Way Christ Intended It: We Take You Higher." Knowing something of some who attend there, it's a start-up hothouse run by a bucolic exhorter of the very base, a loud and ignorant sort. "We do it better" is their flavour and ethos. But Pastor Campbell is more gracious than this scribe--this scribe, as a military man rebuffs, when possible, these "outbursters" and "enthusiasts," these "super apostles." St. Paul had to engage the same types at Corinth, boasters and windbags. As such, Paul will tell of Him of Whom he boasts, Christ and Christ's all sufficiency.

Paul notes that he too can boast. He has had a remarkable "privilege." He had been summoned into the third heaven, to the supernatural world, with an experience that was beyond description. He was raised to the heights.

But he also was summoned to the depths, with a "thorn in the side," something that Paul detected as a messenger from Satan and something of an hellish influence.

Paul traversed the summit from heaven to the valley of affliction. There are times when God ordains afflictions in the experience of God's grace. Here is the essential theme that Rev. Campbell works over throughout the balance of this excellent sermon.

He makes a noteworthy aside, to wit, expressing his thanks that his in Scotland people still sing the Psalms. He calls to mind Psalm 88, something not sung often and something that moderns have little use for. lWhile not intended, this scribe believes there is a tough-minded rebuke in order for American "evangelicals." But this is an aside during the sermon. Pastor Campbell does not read or explicate more fully. He alludes to Psalm 88 while we post it in its entirety.

1 O LORD, God of my salvation,

I have cried out day and night before You.

2 Let my prayer come before You;

Incline Your ear to my cry.

3 For my soul is full of troubles,

And my life draws near to the grave.

4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit;

I am like a man who has no strength,

5 Adrift among the dead,

Like the slain who lie in the grave,

Whom You remember no more,

And who are cut off from Your hand.

6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,

In darkness, in the depths.

7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,

And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah

8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me;

You have made me an abomination to them;

I am shut up, and I cannot get out;

9 My eye wastes away because of affliction.

LORD, I have called daily upon You;

I have stretched out my hands to You.

10 Will You work wonders for the dead?

Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah

11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?

Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?

And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD,

And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14 LORD, why do You cast off my soul?

Why do You hide Your face from me?

15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;

I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught.

16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me;

Your terrors have cut me off.

17 They came around me all day long like water;

They engulfed me altogether.

18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me,

And my acquaintances into darkness.

Imagine Joel Osteen or other American evangelical cowboys singing this during divine worship? Much of what passes for worship is Americana without depth, confessions, liturgies or substance. It's fast food and french fries at drive-throos.

Rev. Campbell, vis a vis Paul, notes that there are times of "darkness of soul," times when complaints and burdens are lodged with His Majesty. Thorns, messengers of Satan, difficulties, and trials in the way of divine providence. Matters that drive one to God in prayer. Matters that break pride and obstinacy.

St. Paul pleaded and besought God. Paul was a man of prayer. It took a Damascus experience to stop Paul in his tracks, with blindness. One reads of Paul in Damascus praying after the divine surgery. Ananias, also a man of prayer, is instructed to seek St. Paul. After the Damascus experience, there was no where to go, but to the LORD.

Quite appropriately, Pastor Campbell invites his congregation to "sue God for His promises," a turn of phrase this scribe hasn't heard in years, but a good one. "Are you a man or woman of prayer?" he asks. Pray without ceasing and, if necessary, use words. Reference is made to Calvin's Institutes regarding prayer as a marvellous summary of the subject.

Regrettably, but not surprisingly for a Scot, we hear nothing about the goodly 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Nevertheless, he has the ethos of it in his sermon.

Paul is in difficulty. He's in pain. Perhaps this affected his concentration. He has to minister through oppression, repression and pain. Joel Osteen and other Marcionitic, Gnostic, and Charismatic enthusiasts and anabaptists won't like this section. Some think prayer is a 1-800-HOTLINE or 1-999-EMERGENCY number. Paul does not refrain from beseeching the LORD for intervention.

But Paul has to learn to be content, whether abounding or abased. He's learned to pray during "favourable weather" and "heavy storms." Often, the most grace-filled prayers are "squeezed" out of pain, adding "urgency" to the plea.

The Psalmist will say, "It is good that I have been afflicted." Perhaps there are health, financial, or other personal experiences of woe and ailment. Perhaps it is an empty chair at the dinner table, as is true here at Camp Lejeune, NC. Yet, the saint has learned to say, "It is Well with my Soul." All things work together for good to those who are called in Christ Jesus.

Paul brings his affliction and thorn to the LORD with a specific request, a specific issue, and at three specific times. Rev. Campbell exhorts us to make specific prayers for things, people and issues.

The prayers can be short, but must be deep. St. Peter's offerred a short prayer while walking on the water, but sinking. "LORD, save me!" The LORD saved him. The man on the cross next to Jesus asked, "Remember me when you enter Your kingdom." He was answered. It was short, but genuine and deeply-felt.

Paul prayed three times, a note of perseverence, but also acceptance of the denied request.

Rev. Campbell observes his gratitude that he and others are not turned away by many requests. The High (and only) Mediator, Christ Jesus, does not turn one away because of having nothing new to say or as one struggles with the same sin in confession. Men ought always to pray. Men ought pray like the Widow who persisted in importuning the Unjust Judge, who finally relented and granted relief to the Widow. How much moreso is the Just Judge of the ends of the earth. One can never weary Christ Jesus by godly prayers. The Lord himself asked, "If it is possible, may this cup pass from me..."

With respect to Paul, God says "No." Paul had learned to distinquish between his "wants" and his "needs."

The divine response and providence is this in sense: "Paul you need this adversity, pain and thorn in the flesh. You need to learn somethings here that, heretofore, have not been your forte and strength. You've been a proud man; you need to learn something new here ; you have residual sin and my grace is sufficient for you."

Although Pastor Campbell did not make the Westminster Confession explicit at this point, we add the remarkable section from Chapter Five, paragraph five--unsurpassed by no other Confession in the True Catholic Church. Most thankfully, this good brother, believes and confesses this great Confession to the world.

5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.

Paul's is a remarkable prayer with a remarkable promise attached. The thorn must remain, but you will learn the words: Paul, My grace is sufficient for you. The sense is: it is best for you to serve me in your pain and oppression. I am giving you an answer that you may never forget and something that you may tell others who are "weary in the way with dark afflictions of the soul."

This was God's channel for Paul to learn God's sufficiency and graciousness, in "weakness." God may not dry up the tears. He may not fill the empty place at the table, but he will keep us in the way.

Rev. Campbell rehearses the lyrics from Amazing Grace, written by the Calvinistic Anglican and Prayer Book man, Rev. John Newton (there are a few of us Calvinist Anglicans around). We post all the verses here.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;’

Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His Word my hope secures;

He will my Shield and Portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS7tkFbtkcg&feature=related (Rev. Campbell references the Song and a few verses. We add a youtube video, although it pertains what is dear to this Marine's heart, his fellow Marines. As believers in the field, deserts, mountains, and at sea, we sang this as believing Churchmen who are Confessors of Christ to the world. I live amongst thousands of them here at Camp Lejeune and have discourse with them daily. Semper Fi to the Marines reading this. And "Listen up to Rev. Campbell.")

Rev. Campbell notes that "God's grace" is not a thing, something that can be picked up or placed in the pocket. It is the LORD's everlasting kindness and goodness to His people in Christ. If in Christ, nothing can separate you from His availing, efficaceous and sure mercies and intercession.

Although Rev. Campbell did not develop this specifically, we include the verses from Romans 8.30-39.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

While Paul can teach this, he also will "boast of his infirmities," his pain, his thorn and sufferings. He has been humbled due to his penchant to pride. God has taught Paul to sing "songs in the night" and "songs during the day." He has learned how to abound and how to be abased.

We strongly refer you to this excellent sermon and brother in Christ, the Rev. Dr. Iain D. Campbell, who does far better than this post.